Page 132 of Never Kiss and Tell

“Well, thank you. Maybe some day I’ll get over my fear of people reading my stuff,” I admit.

He pauses for a second, as if thinking. “Bailey, there’s a reason I asked you to dance with me.”

“Okay.”

“I know your father passed when you were young, so I want to tell you something that I think maybe you need to hear.”

Uh oh.

I swallow down hard, forcing it past the lump in my throatas anxiety plummets through me.

“Now, I know you’ve gone through a lot. Losing your dad. The things that happened back in California. But I’m proud of the person you are. You’re strong. Don’t ever let anyone tell you who you need to be.”

Tears well in my eyes and I can’t stop myself from pulling him to me and hugging him fiercely. I don’t tell him this, but he reminds me of my dad. Kind, but strong. Generous. I want to thank him for allowing me to work for him, but before I can say anything, someone stops beside us.

“Can I cut in?”

Charlie looks at the single tear running down my cheek like it personally assaulted him. I pull back from Charles, who places a gentle kiss to my cheek.

“Go ahead,” Charles nods to his son. “I think it’s time I had a turn with Mawmaw.”

We both watch him walk toward her as she sucks down a glass of champagne and asks her to dance.

“What was that about?” Charlie asks, catching the tear and wiping it away between his fingers. I let him wrap me into his arms and start to move me to the slow song playing.

“Your dad was just giving me the dad talk.”

Charlie grimaces. “And?”

I smile. “And it was nice to hear it, even if he’s not my dad. He’s a great man, Charlie.”

Charlie smiles, his hands sliding down my back to pull me closer. “He is.” He pauses for a second. “Did I tell you how pretty you look tonight?”

“You did,” I chuckle. “Did I tell you how sexy you are in asuit?”

His eyes flare with heat. “You did not. Though, I wouldn’t press the matter between us.”

He’s right. I can feel him growing harder against my stomach. The knowledge makes my sex tighten with need.

“You’re a fiend,” I joke, quietly, so none of the other dancers can hear us. “What are you going to do without me?”

Charlie stops us on the dance floor before I realize what I said. The topic has been something we haven’t really breached, save for a few words.

“Bailey,” he starts, but Andi appears beside me.

“It’s time for me to leave,” she says, her face flushed from the champagne she’s been drinking. “Help me get undressed?”

I smile back at Charlie, place a quick kiss to his cheek and whisper in his ear.

“I would go sit down. Don’t want to give Mawmaw a heart attack.”

Bailey

Charlie holds me while we watch Andi and Tom get carted away in the back of a limo. Before she left, I helped Andi change into her traveling clothes. A week in the Bahamas will do her good, even if I’m not sure about her new husband.

After we say goodnight to everyone, I say my goodbyes to Lionel, Charles and Kendra, and Mawmaw. It sucks and I cry until the only thing left of my makeup is a little bit of waterproof mascara. I leave with a promise from Lionel to come to California to visit and a gentle whisper from Charles, telling me if I ever want to come back, just let him know.

I know I’m distant on the way home, but I can’t get my mind to stop reeling. All these people . . . they’ve come to be my family. Some more than my own flesh and blood. How do you leave people like that and move on with your life? I know I’ll be back to visit, but I don’t think it will be the same. I know it won’t. Andi will have children. Charlie will probably bemarried or engaged by the next time I see him. I don’t know if I can handle that — seeing him with another woman. Would she be like Priscilla? Flashy and superficial? Or will she be demure and mysterious?

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